Wheeler was brought up in Wandsworth and elected Conservative Councillor on Wandsworth Council at the age of 22. After serving a full council term she married her husband Bob, moving in 1986 to Bretby.

After working in the City of London for 10 years, she qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Wheeler was elected onto South Derbyshire District Council in 1995 and was leader of the Conservative group on the council until standing aside following her election as an MP. Following her election to parliament, she continued briefly as district councillor for Repton but did not seek re-election when her term ended in 2011. Wheeler has previously unsuccessfully fought the general elections of 2001 and 2005 in Coventry South, although a swing to the Conservatives was recorded on both occasions.

Wheeler's husband Bob is the current leader of South Derbyshire District Council. Their daughter Harriet was a council candidate in the 2011 local elections but was unsuccessful.